What Republican stewardship has done for Texas

[white cloud]

In November 1994, the Republican Party began taking over management of Texas by electing George W. Bush - and by the January 2003 inaugural the party was in full control of the state government, winning all statewide offices.

In other words, Republicans became fully responsible for both collecting and spending funds for the state. What has this management done for proud Texans in the past 10 years?

Texas ranks fourth in the percentage of children living in poverty and has the greatest percentage of adults and children without health insurance. No other state spends less than we do for mental health services per capita. Our graduation rate is just 6 percent, putting us in 43rd place among the states. Texas teachers rank 34th in public school teacher pay, 15 percent below the national average. Even former first lady Barbara Bush wrote that "Texas students rank in the bottom 10 percent in math and literacy nationally." Our state unemployment rate is 8 percent, approaching that of the national average of 9 percent. Texans pay the highest home insurance in the United States.

This is what Republican stewardship has given Texans, long before the state began its budget crisis.

What's more, over this 10-year Republican management, we have a $27 billion deficit in our state budget! Granted we hit a rough spot with the recession, but obviously, our leaders have had no vision and forward looking planning and leadership.
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http://amarillo.com/opinion/opinion-columnist/guest-opinion-columnist/2011-05-15/restine-what-republican-stewardship-has

[sonias]

1. They totally own it

Just like you said it before. 100% republican grown deficit and state gone to hell in a hand basket under republican rule. :puke:

The Republican position is that nobody should ever pay higher taxes; Republican management could close tax loopholes and subsidies given to major contributors.

Texans who have voted and kept in office the Republican Party that has managed our state for the past 10 years can now watch as our great state falls farther behind with undereducated children, poorer health care, care for our old folks, the disabled, and those in need.

[baseballguy2001]

2. Good news!

Growth in the Texas economy is gaining steam. While activity likely slowed at the beginning of the year, it picked up in February and March. Rising oil prices are boosting the energy sector, and Dallas Fed regional business surveys suggest manufacturing activity and retail sales rose in March. Payroll employment is growing at an accelerating rate, with forecast 2011 job growth at about 3 percent. Soft spots remain in construction, single-family housing and commercial real estate (with the exception of multifamily, which is doing well). Texas exports also began the year on a down note.

Texas payroll employment grew at a healthy 2.6 percent annual rate in first quarter (Chart 1). Private-sector employment outperformed overall employment, rising at a 3 percent annual pace in the first quarter. Texas’ growth rate exceeded the nation’s by 1 percentage point.


http://dallasfed.org/research/update-reg/2011/1103.cfm

[sonias]

3. That is a good sign

I hope we can maintain it. The latest reports nationally also show a recovery but a slow one.

And of course none of that can reflect what the budget cuts, the Lege is making right now, will do to grown and employment over the next couple of years.

I would love to be an optimist about our situation but I'm just not feeling confident in our future.

Welcome to DU, baseballguy2001! :hi:

[tanyev]

4. And that's what Newt Gingrich wants to do to the country.